New England Distribution

Non-native: introduced
(intentionally or
unintentionally); has become naturalized.

County documented: documented
to exist in the county by
evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers
those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).

State documented: never been
documented from the
county, but known from the state. May be present. Or,
may be restricted to a small area or a habitat (alpine,
marsh, etc.), so unlikely found in some
counties.

Note: when native and non-native
populations both exist in a county, only native status
is shown on the map.

North America Distribution

Facts About

Narrow-fruited beaksedge is a very rare species in New England, with a few populations in each of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It inhabits pond shores on the coastal plain. Like other rare species of this habitat type, it flowers and spreads vegetatively while inundated, but the seeds germinate readily only when the soil is dry. Thus, the timing and magnitude of water level fluctuations are important factors in population health.

Habitat

Shores of rivers or lakes

Characteristics

Habitat

wetlands

New England state

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Stem shape in cross-section

the stem is roughly triangular in cross-section

Leaf blade width

3–10 mm

Leaf blade cross-section

the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges

the leaf blade is triangular in cross-section

Inflorescence position

the inflorescence emerges from an axil, or most of its parts do so

the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant

Inflorescence branching

the inflorescence is branched

Fruit type (general)

the fruit is like a seed, and surrounded by scales

Fruit length

4–5 mm

Leaf position on plant

some leaf attachment points are above the midpoint of the stem

Perianth composition

there are bristles attached at the base of the achene

Fruit cross-section

the fruit is biconvex or elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering to both ends) in cross-section